Hand-held portable WWW access terminal with visual display panel and GUI-based WWW browser program integrated with bar code symbol reader

ABSTRACT

A portable hand-held WWW access terminal for accessing HTML-encoded documents located on the WWW. The terminal includes a bar code symbol reader in a hand-supportable housing for reading URL-encoded symbols specifying the location of HTML-encoded documents stored in information servers connected to the Internet and supporting the TCP/IP standard. A computing platform is provided for supporting a GUI-based WWW browser program integrated with the bar code symbol reader in the hand-supportable housing. A telecommunication modem is operably connected to the computing platform in order to establish a two-way telecommunication link between the GUI-based WWW browser and an Internet service provider (ISP) connected to the Internet. In response to reading a URL-encoded bar code symbol, the WWW browser program automatically accesses a corresponding HTML-encoded document on the Internet, for display on a visual display panel integrated with hand-supportable housing. A keypad is also integrated with the hand-supportable housing for manually providing information to the WWW browser program.

RELATED CASES

This Application is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 08/753,367filed Nov. 25, 1996 now abandoned, which is a Continuation-in-Part of:copending application Ser. No. 08/645,331 filed Sep. 24, 1996; copendingapplication Ser. No. 08/615,054 filed Mar. 12, 1996; copendingapplication Ser. No. 08/573,949 filed Dec. 18, 1995; copendingapplication Ser. No. 08/292,237 filed May 17, 1994 now U.S. Pat. No.5,808,285; copending application Ser. No. 08/365,193 filed Dec. 28, 1994now U.S. Pat. No. 5,557,033; copending application Ser. No. 08/293,493filed Aug. 19, 1994 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,525,789; copending applicationSer. No. 08/561,479 filed Nov. 20, 1995 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,282;copending application Ser. No. 08/278,109 filed Nov. 24, 1995 now U.S.Pat. No. 5,484,992; copending application Ser. No. 08/489,305 filed Jun.9, 1995 now abandoned; copending Ser. No. 08/476,069 filed Jun. 7, 1995now U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,953; and copending application Ser. No.08/584,135 filed Jan. 11, 1996 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,616,908. Each saidpatent application is assigned to and commonly owned by MetrologicInstruments, Inc. of Blackwood, N.J., and is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention is directed to a novel Internet scanning terminaland a novel method for surfing Internet World Wide Web (WWW) using barcode symbols encoded with the Uniform Resource Locators (URLs)indicating the location of Web-Sites within the WWW to be explored.

2. Background of the Invention

Presently, several techniques have been developed for connecting to(i.e., "surfing" among) Internet Web-sites using a conventionalgraphical user interface (GUI) based Internet browser programs, such asthe Navigator® from Netscape Communications, Inc. or the InternetExplorer® from Microsoft, Inc. Notably the availability of anyparticular Web-site surfing technique depends, of course, on where theInternet user finds him or her self in the Internet browser program atany particular instant of time.

For example, if one is currently at a Web-site (i.e., in a particularHyperText Markup Language (HTML) document), at which there is ahighlighted "link" or embedded URL specifying the Internet address ofanother Web-site (i.e., another HTML document), then the user can "surfto" this other Web-site by simply "clicking on" or selecting thehighlighted URL with his or her pointing device (i.e., "mouse") in aconventional manner. The ability to connect to other Web-sites by simplypointing and clicking on a highlighted URLs embedded in an HTML documenthas contributed enormously to the growth and popularity of the Internetin the last few years.

If the user desires to connect to a Web-site that is not referenced in aHTML document viewed through a browser program, then the user oftentimesfind it necessary to manually enter the URL of the Web-site (e.g.,"http://www.metrologic.com") into the browser program. This requiresmanually pressing a sequence of keys on a keyboard or remote controldevice, corresponding to the characters of the URL being selected. Inaddition to being time consuming, this Web-site surfing technique isprone to errors, causing the browser program to connect to the wrongWeb-site or return a message stating that the Domain Name of theWeb-site sought after cannot be found. From practical point of view,this is quite frustrating to the Internet user.

More recently, with the growth and ever increasing complexity of theWWW, it is becoming popular to use printed publications (e.g. magazines,catalogues, directories, etc.) which list Web-site, corresponding URLsand content descriptions, as navigational aids, much in same way thatthe TV GUIDE® magazine is used to help viewers select programs duringtelevision viewing. Again, however, each time a listed Web-site is to beviewed, the user is forced to manually enter into the Internet browserprogram, the lengthy character string associated with the URL of theWeb-site being selected. Only thereafter, does the browser programautomatically connect the user's client system (i.e., Internet Terminal)to the Internet information serving computer supporting the selectedWeb-site.

While the development of HTML and GUI-based Web browser programs havemade accessing Web-sites quite simple, the above shortcomings anddrawbacks of prior art Internet technology clearly indicate a great needin the art for an improved system and method of surfing to Web-sites onthe Internet.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to providean improved system and method of surfing Web-sites on the Internet whileavoiding the shortcomings and drawbacks of prior art systems andmethodologies.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an InternetScanning System, which includes an bar code symbol reader programmed toread URL-encoded bar code symbols printed on various types of printmedia which, when read thereby, automatically connects the InternetClient System to the Internet Server that supports the Web-sitespecified by the scanned URL-encoded bar code symbol.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such InternetScanning System, wherein the bar code symbol reader may be a laserscanning bar code symbol reader, a CCD bar code symbol, or a Wand-typebar code symbol reader.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such an InternetScanning System, wherein the URL-encoded bar code symbol printed onvarious types of print media is a URL-encoded truncated-type bar codesymbol, having a very low height to length ratio, thereby allowing manyURL-encoded bar code symbols to be printed on a single sheet or page ofa Web-site guide, along with their corresponding human-readable URLs andcontent descriptions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such an InternetScanning System in the form of a desktop, laptop or palmtop computersystem that is connected to the Internet by way of an Internet ServiceProvider (ISP), wherein the computer system has a GUI-based web browserprogram and a programmed bar code symbol scanner interfaced therewithfor automatically surfing to Web-sites listed in a Web-site guide bysimply scanning corresponding URL-encoded bar code symbols printed onthe pages thereof.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an InternetScanning System in the form of an interactive web-based televisionsystem, wherein the web-based television system comprises a Internetterminal unit connected to the Internet by way of an ISP, anaudio-visual display monitor for displaying graphical and audioinformation content of Web-sites, and a portable Internet surfing devicehaving a wireless IR-based communication link to the Internet terminalunit and an integrated bar code symbol scanner for automatically surfingto (or among) Web-sites listed in a Web-site guide by simply scanningcorresponding URL-encoded bar code symbols printed on the pages thereof.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such an InternetScanning System in the form of a Scanner Integrated Terminal, whereinthe Scanner Integrated Terminal is connectable to the Internet by way ofa wireless (RF) link to an ISP, and has an integrated GUI-based webbrowser program, display panel, keypad, and programmed bar code symbolscanner for automatically surfing to Web-sites listed in a Web-siteguide by simply scanning corresponding URL-encoded bar code symbolsprinted on the pages thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel method ofsurfing to Web-sites on the Internet by scanning URL-encoded bar codesymbols into GUI-based web browser programs, without the need of manualdata entry operations or the like.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an InternetScanning System, which includes an optical character reader programmedto read the character strings of URLs printed on various types of printmedia which, when read thereby, automatically connects the InternetClient System to the Internet Server that supports the Web-sitespecified by the read URL.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such an InternetScanning System in the form of a desktop, laptop or palmtop computersystem that is connected to the Internet by way of an Internet ServiceProvider (ISP), wherein the computer system has a GUI-based web browserprogram and a programmed optical character reader interfaced therewithfor automatically surfing to Web-sites listed in a Web-site guide bysimply reading corresponding URLs printed on the pages thereof.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an InternetScanning System in the form of an interactive web-based televisionsystem, wherein the web-based television system comprises a Internetterminal unit connected to the Internet by way of an ISP, anaudio-visual display monitor for displaying graphical and audioinformation content of Web-sites, and a portable Internet surfing devicehaving a wireless IR-based communication link to the Internet Terminalunit and an integrated optical character reader for automaticallysurfing to Web-sites listed in a Web-site guide by simply scanningcorresponding URLs printed on the pages thereof.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such an InternetScanning System in the form of a Scanner Integrated Terminal, whereinthe Scanner Integrated Terminal is connectable to the Internet by way ofa wireless (RF) link to an ISP, and has an integrated GUI-based webbrowser program, display panel, keypad, and programmed optical characterreader for automatically surfing to Web-sites listed in a Web-site guideby simply scanning corresponding URLs printed on the pages thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel method ofsurfing to Web-sites on the Internet by optically scanning the characterstrings of URLs into GUI-based web browser programs, without the need ofmanual data entry operations and the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel Web-siteguide or directory comprising one or more sheets having a plurality ofURL-encoded bar code symbols, corresponding human-readable URLs andWeb-site content descriptions printed thereon.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparenthereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of how to practice the objects of thePresent Invention, the following Detailed Description of theIllustrative Embodiments should be read in conjunction with theaccompanying Drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the first illustrative embodiment ofthe present invention, in which the Internet Scanning System hereof isrealized in the form of a desktop computer system shown connected to theInternet by way of an ISP, and having a GUI-based web browser programand a bar code symbol scanner for automatically surfing to Web-siteslisted in a Web-site guide by simply scanning corresponding URL-encodedbar code symbols printed on the pages thereof;

FIG. 1A is schematic representation of a single sheet or page of theWeb-site Directory of the present invention, showing several URL-encoded(truncated) bar code symbols printed thereon along with theircorresponding human-readable URLs and content descriptions;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the second illustrative embodiment ofthe present invention, in which the Internet Scanning System hereof isrealized in the form of an interactive web-based television system whichcomprises a Terminal Unit shown connected to the Internet by way of anISP and has portable Internet Navigation (i.e., Surfing) Device havingan IR-link to the Terminal Unit, and a bar code symbol scannerintegrated therewith for automatically surfing to Web-sites listed in aWeb-site guide by simply scanning corresponding URL-encoded bar codesymbols printed on the pages thereof; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the third illustrative embodiment ofthe present invention, in which the Internet Scanning System hereof isrealized in the form of a hand-held Scanner Integrated Terminal shownconnected to the Internet by way of a wireless link to an ISP, andhaving an integrated GUI-based web browser program, display panel,keypad, and programmed bar code symbol scanner for automatically surfingto Web-sites listed in a Web-site guide by simply scanning correspondingURL-encoded bar code symbols printed on the pages thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENTINVENTION

The illustrative embodiments of the present invention will be describedwith reference to the figure drawings wherein like elements andstructures are indicated by like reference numbers.

In general, the system and method of the present invention is practicedin connection with a globally-based digital telecommunications network(known as the Internet). The function of the Internet is to provide aninfrastructure that supports wired and wireless digitaltelecommunications throughout the world using the well known TCP/IPnetworking protocols. In general, the Internet infrastructure comprisesInternet Service Providers (ISPs), Network Service Providers (NSPs),routers, telecommunication lines and channels. etc., all well known inthe art.

Connected to the Internet 1 by way of the Internet infrastructure (i.e.,ISPs and NSPs) are many Internet Web-site Servers (i.e., computersystems) 2 that are physically located throughout the world and whosefunction is to serve information to Internet users when requested byclient computer systems (i.e., client systems) 3. In general, eachInternet Web-site Server 2 and client system 3 may be connected to theinfrastructure by way of an ISP 4 (or NSP) using physical communicationmedia or a wireless (RF-based) digital communication link 5 well knownin the art. Notably, while each illustrative embodiment of the InternetScanning System hereof is realized in the form of a Client Systemoperably connected to the infrastructure of the Internet by way of anISP, it is understood that the Internet connection may be achievedthrough an NSP or access point in the Internet infrastructure.

In the illustrative embodiments, each Internet Web-site Server 2 isrealized as a computer system running conventional Web-site serversoftware (e.g., WebStar® from StarNine, Inc.) and is interfaced with anISP in a conventional manner. Each Internet Web-site Server is assignedan unique IP address (and Domain Name) on the Internet, and is providedwith Internet networking software to support the TCP/IP protocol. Inaddition, each Internet Web-site server is provided with one or moreapplication software programs for creating and maintaining hypermediadocuments containing text, graphics and audio information within aninformation file structure expressed in HTML. Each HTML document on theWWW is physically stored in an Internet Server 2. The location of suchinformation storage on the WWW is specified by a Uniform ResourceLocator (URL), the syntax of which is well known in the art. Thefunction of a URL is best illustrated by way of example. MetrologicInstruments, Inc., the assignee of the present invention, has launched aWWW site having a "home page" (i.e., first page) specified by thefollowing URL: "http://www.metrologic.com". The type of informationmaintained at this Web-site, beginning with Metrologic's home page, canbe virtually any type of information (of a multi-media nature) andtypically will be updated over time to reflect changes in either thecompany, its products, services and the like. The same is generally truefor each and every other Web-site on the Internet, regardless of thetype of information being served to client systems.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the first illustrative embodiment of theInternet Scanning System hereof is realized in the form of a desktopcomputer system 6. As shown, the desktop computer system consisting of avideo monitor 6A, a processor 6B, keyboard 6C and mouse 6C, is connectedto the Internet by way of an ISP 4. The computer system 6 has aGUI-based web browser program and a hand-held, wireless laser scanningbar code symbol reading system 7 which is connected to the communicationport of this host system in a conventional manner. In the preferredembodiment, wireless bar code symbol reading system 7 comprises ahand-supportable laser scanning bar code symbol reading device 7A and abase unit 7B which receives RF signals transmitted from device 7A uponthe successful reading of each bar code symbol thereby; the base unit 7Bproduces an acoustical acknowledgement signal in response to each suchsuccessful read. System 7 can be realized by any one of the (i) wirelessbar code symbol reading systems disclosed in copending application Ser.No. 08/292,237 filed Aug. 17, 1994, or (ii) tethered bar code symbolreading systems disclosed in copending application Ser. Nos. 08/476,069and 08/660,643, each said application being incorporated herein byreference. The function of the programmed bar code symbol reader 7 is toread a bar code symbol 8 that is encoded with the URL of a Web-site tobe accessed by the Internet Scanning System, and produce symbolcharacter data representative of the URL. As used hereinafter, thisspecial type of bar code symbol shall be referred to as a "URL-EncodedBar Code Symbol". The information structure of this symbol characterstring should be formatted so that it corresponds to the syntacticalstructure of the URL and is thus readily utilizable by any conventionalGUI-based Internet browser program, such as the Navigator® from Netscapeor the Internet Explorer® from Microsoft. When this URL information isprovided to the Internet browser program, the particular Web-sitecorresponding to the URL is automatically accessed by the InternetScanning System.

In general, each URL-encoded bar code symbol of the present inventioncan be either a linear (1-D) or 2-D bar code symbol structure ofvirtually any symbology that allows for the encoding of the ASCII-typeinformation contained within a URL-type information structure, thesyntax of which is well known in the art. In the preferred embodiment,the URL-Encoded Bar Code Symbol 8 is realized as a truncated-type barcode symbol of Code 128 or Code 39 Symbology. Preferably, each such barcode symbol is printed above, below or alongside each Web-site URL 14 orits listing in a Web-site guide or directory. In general, theURL-encoded bar code symbol can be of any length. Notably, the advantageof using the truncated bar code symbol structure is that the height ofthe bars and spaces is relatively short in relation to the length of thebar code, thus allowing the URL-encoded truncated Symbol 8 to be easilyprinted with each Web-site listing printed on crowded pages of printedWeb-site guides and catalogues, as illustrated in FIG. 1A.

In accordance with the present invention, Web-site listings in whichURL-encoded bar code symbols may be printed, include various types ofprinted guides, directories or publications which digest, catalogue,organize or otherwise list WWW sites that exist on Web-site Serversthroughout the Internet. Examples of such printed Web-site publicationsinclude, for example: the "WWW Yellow Pages" (1996) published by the NewRiders Publishers, Inc.; "PC NOVICE GUIDE TO THE WEB: How to findanything on the Web" (1996) published by Peed Corporation;"Cybersurfer", published by Starlog Group, Inc.; "Internet Underground",published by Ziff-Davis; "Internet User", published by Ziff-Davis;"Internet World", published by Mecklermedia; "The Net", published byImagine Publishing; "Net Guide", published by CMP Media; "OnlineAccess", published by Red Flash Internet; "The Web", published byInternational Data Group; "Websight", published by New Media, Inc.;"Yahoo Internet Life", published by Ziff-Davis and Yahoo; WebTV Guides;or any other printed publication that one may desire to use to look upWeb-sites (of interest) that one would like to visit (surf to) andexplore.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A, the programmed bar code symbol scanner 7 ofthe Internet Scanning System of the first illustrative embodiment isparticularly designed so that closely nested Web-site listings on asingle page can be read without inadvertently reading undesiredURL-encoded bar code symbols. This added scanning control feature isachieved in the bar code symbol reader of FIG. 1 by providing theautomatic laser scanning bar code symbol reader 7A with anoptically-transparent scanning plate 9A supported from reader 7A by anoptically transparent extension 9B. The scanning plate 9A has formedtherein a sighting window (i.e., aperture) 10, through which aURL-encoded bar code symbol 8 is automatically scanned and read whensuch a printed symbol (on a substrate) is aligned with the sightingaperture. In this particular embodiment of the bar code symbol reader7A, the IR-based object detection field 11 extends just slightly beyondthe sighting window 10 so that the laser scanning by laser beam 12 isautomatically initiated only when an object (e.g., Web-site Guide) 13 isplaced up against the sighting window 10, as when the scanning plate isbrought in contact with URL-Encoded Bar Code Symbol 8 associated with aparticular Web-site listing, shown in FIG. 1A. The design andconstruction details associated with automatic bar code symbol reader 7Acan be found in Applicant's prior U.S. application Ser. No. 08/292,237filed Aug. 17, 1994, incorporated herein by reference. As shown in FIG.1, this scanning device can be provided with a keypad 15 in a mannerknown in the art, for manually entering the characters of URLs, neededor required.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the second illustrative embodiment of the InternetScanning System hereof is realized in the form of an interactiveweb-based television system 16 which comprises an Internet Terminal Unit17, a Remote Control Scanning Device 18 and a standard (NTSC or PAL)color television set 19. As shown, the Internet Terminal Unit 17 isconnected to the Internet by way of an ISP 4 and includes means forsupporting: (i) a GUI-based Internet browser program such as theInternet Navigator® from Netscape Communications or the InternetExplorer® from Microsoft, Inc.; and (ii) the TCP/IP networking protocolon the Internet. In the preferred embodiment, the Internet Terminal Unit17 can be realized using any one of a number of commercially availableInternet Terminal devices, such as, for example: the Mediamaster 9500™Internet Terminal from Nokia, Inc.; the NetStation™ Internet Terminalfrom Acorn Computer; or the "Internet Digital Appliance" from Diba.

As shown in FIG. 2, the Remote Control Scanning Device 18 of the secondillustrative embodiment can be realized by integrating a miniatureautomatic bar code symbol reading module 20 into the wireless remotecontrol device that is provided with the commercially available terminalunit that is used to practice this embodiment of the present invention.Preferably, automatic bar code symbol reading module 20 is similar tothe device described in great detail in Applicant's copendingapplication Ser. No. 08/292,237 supra. Such laser scanning engines, asthey are called, are commercially available from Metrologic Instruments,Inc., of Blackwood, N.J., under the tradename ScanQuest®. The manner inwhich such a laser scanning engine can be integrated into any one of theremote control devices of the above-identified Internet Terminals, andthus provide the Remote Control Scanning Device 18, will be describedbelow.

The Mediamaster 9500™ Internet Terminal from Nokia, Inc., theNetStation™ Internet Terminal from Acorn Computer, or the InternetDigital Appliance from Diba, are each provided with a wireless remotecontrol device which includes a programmable microcontroller (i.e.,microprocessor) operably connected to a system bus of one sort oranother. The system subcomponents that are connected to the system busstructure include, for example: program memory realized in the form ofEPROM 21; data storage memory realized in the form of RAM 22; a keypad23, data storage registers and interface circuitry; an IR-basedcommunication circuit and interface circuitry 24; and a power supply andpower distribution circuitry 25. In such commercial products, no visualdisplay device (e.g. LCD panel) is provided, as all display functionsare provided on the television screen using an on-screen display formatwell known in the art. Integration of an automatic ScanQuest® LaserScanning Module (Model No. IS4120) into the system architecture of suchwireless remote control devices can be achieved by adding additionaldata registers to the system bus, and connecting the data output port ofthe scanner to such registers in a conventional manner. Additionalcontrol logic will have to be provided by the microcontroller in toprovide scan data from the scanner priority over data entered manuallyinto the system. All such modifications are within the ordinary skill inthe art.

As shown in FIG. 2, Remote Control Scanning Device 18 has anoptically-transparent scanning plate 9A supported by an opticallytransparent extension 9B. The scanning plate 9A has formed therein asighting window (i.e., aperture) 10, through which a URL-encoded barcode symbol 8 is automatically scanned and read when such a printedsymbol (on a substrate) is aligned with the sighting aperture. TheIR-based object detection field 11 extends just slightly beyond thesighting window 10 so that the laser scanning beam 12 is automaticallyinitiated only when an object (e.g., Web Guide) 13 is placed up againstthe sighting window 10, as when the scanning plate 10 is brought incontact with URL-Encoded Bar Code Symbol 8 associated with a particularWeb-site listing, shown in FIG. 2. During operation, the Remote ControlScanning Device 18 is used to read URL-encoded bar code symbols 8printed on Web-site GuideBook 13 in order to connect to thecorresponding Web-sites thereof.

While any standard (NTSC or PAL) color television set can be used inconnection with the Internet Terminal 17 to display graphical and audioinformation content associated with any particular Web-site accessed bythe system, it is preferred that a higher-resolution (VGA or SVGA)computer monitor is used in connection therewith to display highresolution graphics.

As shown in FIG. 3, the third illustrative embodiment of the InternetScanning System hereof is realized in the form of a hand-held ScanningIntegrated Terminal. The Scanner Integrated Terminal 26 is shownconnected to an ISP 4 by way of a radio-base station 27 and wirelesslink 5. The hand-held Scanning Integrated Terminal 26 has an integratedGUI-based World Wide Web (WWW) browser program, display panel 28,touch-screen type keypad 29, and programmed bar code symbol scanner 20.The function of the bar code symbol scanner 20 is to read a bar codesymbol 8 that is encoded with the URL of a Web-site to be accessed bythe Internet Scanning System, and produce symbol character datarepresentative thereof.

In the illustrative embodiment, the Scanner Integrated Terminal 26 isrealized as a transportable computer, such as the Newton® Model 130Messagepad 30 from Apple Computer, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. This deviceis provided with NetHopper™ brand Internet Access Software from AllPenSoftware, Inc., of Los Gatos, Calif., which supports the TCP/IPnetworking protocol and the client-sides of HTTP within the NewtonMessagePad. The Newton Messagepad is also equipped with a MotorolaPCMICA-based modem card 31 having a RF transceiver for establishing awireless digital communication link with either (i) a cellular basestation, or (ii) one or more satellite-base stations (27) connected tothe Internet by way of an ISP 4 in a manner well known in the globalinformation networking art. While it is understood that, in someinstances, it may be desired to connect a pen or wand device to theserial port of the Newton MessagePad to provide bar code symbol readingcapabilities thereto, it is generally preferred that automatic laserscanning engine 20 (e.g., Metrologic ScanQuest® Laser Scanning ModuleModel No. IS4120), be interfaced with the serial communications port ofthe Newton MessagePad so as to realize the Internet Scanning System ofthe third illustrative embodiment hereof.

As shown in FIG. 3, the entire Newton MessagePad, ScanQuest® LaserScanning Module 20 and auxiliary battery supply (not shown) arecompletely housed within a rubberized shock-proof housing 32, in orderto provide a hand-supportable unitary device. The rubberized housing isprovided with an scanning aperture 10 realized within an opticallytransparent scanning plate 9B supported by extension 9A. The function ofthe scanning aperture 10 is to allow the projected laser beam 12 tosweep across a URL-encoded bar code symbol 8 located within the sightingwindow 10 of optically-transparent scanning plate 9B, once the object(e.g., Web-site guide) 13 is detected by the object detection field 11.

In each of the three illustrative embodiments described above, the barcode symbol scanner can be replaced by a programmed optical characterreader realized using the automatic holographic laser scanningtechnology disclosed in great detail in Applicant's copendingapplication Ser. No. 08/08/573,949 filed Dec. 18, 1995, incorporatedherein by reference. The function of the programmed optical characterreader is to allow the Internet Scanning Terminal to access any desiredWeb-site by reading the alphanumeric character string comprising the URLthereof, and provide the same as output to the GUI-based Internetbrowser program thereof. In such alternative embodiments, the functionof the optical character reader (i.e., character reading module) is toread the SCII characters comprising the URL 14 printed on a Web-siteguide or like publication, avoiding the need for manual key entryoperations.

The Internet Scanning Terminals of the present invention may bemodified, in a variety of ways, to carry diverse range of bar codesymbol scanning functions. All modifications and variations of theillustrative embodiments are deemed to be within the scope and spirit ofthe present invention as defined by the accompanying Claims toInvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable WWW access terminal for allowing anoperator to access and display HTML-encoded documents located on the WWWby reading bar code symbols encoded with URLs pointing thereto, saidportable WWW access terminal comprising:a hand-supportable housingsupportable within the hand of said operator; a bar code symbol reader,integrated with said hand-supportable housing, and programmed for (i)reading a bar code symbol encoded with a URL specifying the location ofan HTML-encoded document stored in an information server connected tothe Internet and supporting the TCP/IP standard, and (ii) producingsymbol character data representative of said URL; visual informationdisplay means, integrated with said hand-supportable housing, forvisually displaying information including graphical informationcontained in said HTML-encoded document specified by said URL; Internetaccessing means, disposed in said hand-supportable housing andresponsive to said bar code symbol reader, said Internet accessing meansfurther including(i) computing means disposed in said hand-supportablehousing, and (ii) a GUI-based WWW browser program executed by saidcomputing means, and integrated with said bar code symbol reader in saidhand-supportable housing, so that, in response to said bar code symbolreader reading the bar code symbol encoded with said URL, said GUI-basedWWW browser program automatically accesses the HTML-encoded documentspecified by said URL using said TCP/IP standard and the symbolcharacter data representative of said URL, and automatically displayssaid accessed HTML-encoded document on said visual information displaymeans for review by the operator; and a radio-frequency (RF)transceiver, integrated with said hand-supportable housing and beingoperably connected to said Internet accessing means, for enabling awireless two-way telecommunication link between said Internet accessingmeans and a base-station operably connected to an Internet serviceprovider connected the Internet so as to enable said Internet accessingmeans to access said HTML-encoded document specified by the URL encodedin said bar code symbol read by said bar code symbol reader.
 2. Theportable WWW access terminal of claim 1, wherein said bar code symbolreader is a device selected from the group consisting of a laserscanning bar code symbol reader, a CCD bar code symbol reader, and awand-type bar code symbol reader.
 3. The portable WWW access terminal ofclaim 1, which further comprises information entry means for enteringinformation into said Internet accessing means.
 4. The portable WWWaccess terminal of claim 3, wherein said information entry meanscomprises a keypad integrated with said hand-supportable housing, formanually entering information into said Internet accessing means.
 5. Theportable WWW access terminal of claim 1, wherein said visual informationdisplay means comprises an LCD panel.
 6. The portable WWW accessterminal of claim 1, wherein said visual information display meanscomprises an LCD panel, and said information entry means comprises atouch-sensitive keypad integrated with said LCD panel.
 7. The portableWWW access terminal of claim 1, wherein said radio-frequency (RF)transceiver comprises a modem card for enabling said wireless two-waycommunication link between said Internet accessing means and saidbase-station.
 8. The portable WWW access terminal of claim 1, whereinsaid base station is a device selected from the group consisting of acellular base station operably connected to the Internet, and asatellite-base station operably connected to the Internet.
 9. Theportable WWW access terminal of claim 1, wherein said bar code symbol,encoded with said URL, is a one-dimensional bar code symbol, and saidbar code symbol reader is programmed to read said one-dimensional barcode symbol.
 10. The portable WWW access terminal of claim 1, whereinsaid bar code symbol, encoded with said URL, is a two-dimensional barcode symbol, and said bar code symbol reader is programmed to read saidtwo-dimensional bar code symbol.
 11. A portable information accessterminal for allowing an operator to access and display HTML-encodeddocuments located on an information network by reading bar code symbolsencoded with URLs pointing thereto, said portable information accessterminal comprising:a hand-supportable housing; a bar code symbolreader, integrated with said hand-supportable housing, and programmedfor (i) reading a bar code symbol encoded with a URL specifying thelocation of an HTML-encoded document stored in an information serverconnected to said information network and supporting the TCP/IPstandard, and (ii) producing symbol character data representative ofsaid URL; visual information display means, integrated with saidhand-supportable housing, for visually displaying information includinggraphical information contained in said HTML-encoded document specifiedby said URL; network accessing means, disposed in said hand-supportablehousing and responsive to said bar code symbol reader, said networkaccessing means further including(i) computing means disposed in saidhand-supportable housing, and (ii) a GUI-based WWW browser programexecuted by said computing means, and integrated with said bar codesymbol reader in said hand-supportable housing, so that, in response tosaid bar code symbol reader reading the bar code symbol encoded withsaid URL, said GUI-based WWW browser program automatically accesses theHTML-encoded document specified by said URL using said TCP/IP standardand the symbol character data representative of said URL, andautomatically displays said accessed HTML-encoded document on saidvisual information display means for review by the operator; and aradio-frequency (RF) transceiver, integrated with said hand-supportablehousing and being operably connected to said network accessing means,for enabling a wireless two-way telecommunication link between saidInternet accessing means and a base station operably connected to anInternet service provider (ISP) connected to said information network soas to enable said network accessing means to access said HTML-encodeddocument specified by the URL encoded in said bar code symbol read bysaid bar code symbol reader.
 12. The portable information accessterminal of claim 11, wherein said bar code symbol reader is a deviceselected from the group consisting of a laser scanning bar code symbolreader, a CCD bar code symbol reader, and a wand-type bar code symbolreader.
 13. The portable information access terminal of claim 11, whichfurther comprises information entry means for entering information intosaid network accessing means.
 14. The portable information accessterminal of claim 13, wherein said information entry means comprises akeypad integrated with said hand-supportable housing, for manuallyentering information into said network accessing means.
 15. The portableinformation access terminal of claim 11, wherein said visual informationdisplay means comprises an LCD panel.
 16. The portable informationaccess terminal of claim 11, wherein said visual information displaymeans comprises an LCD panel, and said information entry means comprisesa touch-sensitive keypad integrated with said LCD panel.
 17. Theportable information access terminal of claim 11, wherein saidradio-frequency (RF) transceiver comprises a modem card for enablingsaid wireless two-way digital communication link between said Internetaccessing means and said base-station.
 18. The portable informationaccess terminal of claim 17, wherein said base station is a deviceselected from the group consisting of a cellular base station operablyconnected to the Internet, and a satellite-base station operablyconnected to the Internet.
 19. The portable WWW access terminal of claim11, wherein said bar code symbol, encoded with said URL, is aone-dimensional bar code symbol, and said bar code symbol reader isprogrammed to read said one-dimensional bar code symbol.
 20. Theportable WWW access terminal of claim 11, wherein said bar code symbol,encoded with said URL, is a two-dimensional bar code symbol, and saidbar code symbol reader is programmed to read said two-dimensional barcode symbol.
 21. An Internet-based information system for allowing anoperator to access and display HTML-encoded documents on the WWW byreading bar code symbols encoded with URLs pointing thereto, saidinformation system comprising:(A) an Internet information serverconnected to the Internet, supporting the TCP/IP standard, and storing aHTML-encoded document at a location on the Internet specified by a URL;and (B) a portable WWW access terminal including(1) a hand-supportablehousing supportable within the hand of said operator; (2) a bar codesymbol reader, integrated with said hand-supportable housing, andprogrammed for (i) reading a bar code symbol encoded with said URLspecifying the location of said HTML-encoded document stored in saidInternet information server, and (ii) producing symbol character datarepresentative of said URL; (3) visual information display means,integrated with said hand-supportable housing, for visually displayinginformation including graphical information contained in saidHTML-encoded document specified by said URL; (4) Internet accessingmeans, disposed in said hand-supportable housing and responsive to saidbar code symbol reader, said Internet accessing means furtherincluding(i) computing means disposed in said hand-supportable housing,and (ii) a GUI-based WWW browser program executed by said computingmeans, and integrated with said bar code symbol reader in saidhand-supportable housing, so that, in response to said bar code symbolreader reading the bar code symbol encoded with said URL, said GUI-basedWWW browser program automatically accesses from said Internetinformation server, the HTML-encoded document specified by said URLusing said TCP/IP standard and the symbol character data representativeof said URL, and automatically displays said accessed HTML-encodeddocument on said visual information display means of said portable WWWaccess computer terminal for review by the operator; and (5) aradio-frequency (RF) transceiver, integrated with said hand-supportablehousing and being operably connected to said Internet accessing means,for enabling a wireless two-way telecommunication link between saidInternet accessing means and a base-station operably connected to anInternet service provider connected the Internet so as to enable saidInternet accessing means to access said HTML-encoded document specifiedby the URL encoded in said bar code symbol read by said bar code symbolreader.
 22. The Internet-based information system of claim 21, whereinsaid bar code symbol reader is a device selected from the groupconsisting of a laser scanning bar code symbol reader, a CCD bar codesymbol reader, and a wand-type bar code symbol reader.
 23. TheInternet-based information system of claim 21, wherein said portable WWWaccess client terminal further comprises information entry means forentering information into said Internet accessing means.
 24. TheInternet-based information system of claim 23, wherein said informationentry means comprises a keypad integrated with said hand-supportablehousing, for manually entering information into said Internet accessingmeans.
 25. The Internet-based information system of claim 21, whereinsaid visual information display means comprises an LCD panel.
 26. TheInternet-based information system of claim 21, wherein said visualinformation display means comprises an LCD panel, and said informationentry means comprises a touch-sensitive keypad integrated with said LCDpanel.
 27. The Internet-based information system of claim 21, whereinsaid radio-frequency (RF) transceiver comprises a modem card forenabling said wireless two-way communication link between said Internetaccessing means and said base-station.
 28. The Internet-basedinformation system of claim 21, wherein said base station is a deviceselected from the group consisting of a cellular base station operablyconnected to the Internet, and a satellite-base station operablyconnected to the Internet.
 29. The Internet-based information system ofclaim 21, wherein said bar code symbol, encoded with said URL, is aone-dimensional bar code symbol, and said bar code symbol reader isprogrammed to read said one-dimensional bar code symbol.
 30. TheInternet-based information system of claim 21, wherein said bar codesymbol, encoded with said URL, is a two-dimensional bar code symbol, andsaid bar code symbol reader is programmed to read said two-dimensionalbar code symbol.